Group says racy messages nothing more than straight talk about sex

Published: Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 05:48 PM.

A teen pregnancy prevention group’s social media suggestion to give condoms as stocking stuffers has some community members upset about the message those posts send to Gaston County teens.

Gaston Youth Connected created its Teen Action Council Facebook page in 2011. Posts range from encouraging teens to talk about sex with their parents to posting information about sexually transmitted diseases. Some in the community say a few of the most recent posts are too extreme and encourage teens to have sex.

The council posted this on its Facebook page Dec. 19: “Christmas is six days away. Need stocking stuffers?” It then suggested giving condoms and listed an array of options such as “flavored” and “textured.”

The next day’s post read: “Need to stock up on condoms or birth control over the holiday break? Visit the Teen Wellness Center to re-supply!”

Gaston Youth Connected staff members operate the Facebook page, said Elizabeth Finley, director of strategic communications for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina.

APPCNC formed Gaston Youth Connected after the group earned a five-year, $5.8 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010 to reduce teen pregnancy rates in Gaston County.

A teen pregnancy prevention group’s social media suggestion to give condoms as stocking stuffers has some community members upset about the message those posts send to Gaston County teens.

Gaston Youth Connected created its Teen Action Council Facebook page in 2011. Posts range from encouraging teens to talk about sex with their parents to posting information about sexually transmitted diseases. Some in the community say a few of the most recent posts are too extreme and encourage teens to have sex.

The council posted this on its Facebook page Dec. 19: “Christmas is six days away. Need stocking stuffers?” It then suggested giving condoms and listed an array of options such as “flavored” and “textured.”

The next day’s post read: “Need to stock up on condoms or birth control over the holiday break? Visit the Teen Wellness Center to re-supply!”

Gaston Youth Connected staff members operate the Facebook page, said Elizabeth Finley, director of strategic communications for the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina.

APPCNC formed Gaston Youth Connected after the group earned a five-year, $5.8 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010 to reduce teen pregnancy rates in Gaston County.

Youthful tone?

The page tries to reach youth by writing in a way that relates to teens, Finley said. Gaston Youth Connected Teen Action Council’s Facebook page has 95 likes, a relatively small number of fans for any Facebook page.

“They do that in a tone that is sort of by youth, for youth. And I can understand how some adults may not appreciate that,” Finley said. “When we did our parents’ survey last year in 2011, more than 90 percent of parents thought it was very important for their teens to understand where they can get pregnancy services in the community.”

Facebook posts aren’t effective if they include every piece of information about a topic.

“Those posts are part of a series that include a little bit of information,” Finley said. “This is all about broader teen pregnancy prevention strategies. We’ve got education prevention events going on. This is just one teeny, little strategy that is part of a broader push in the community.”

Kevin Kellough, pastor of New Testament Church of the Firstborn, said those posts send teens the wrong message.

“It puts a most affirming attitude that sex is going to be had. Have all you want. But we have everything you need to have all the sex you want. There’s no talk of discouragement. There’s no talk of morality,” Kellough said. “The point is not about not having sex. The point is not having children because they cost money. So children are not equated as lives. They are equated as dollars and cents. So every which way you turn around, it is supporting the idea and the fluidity of sex among young people. And the church can never take a stance like that. And for the pastors that are on there, they’ve caved in to society.”

Abstinence and ammunition

Some in the faith community expressed concerns about what kind of programs and education the Gaston Youth Connected project would use when the group first came to Gaston County in 2010. For Kellough, the recent Facebook posts reflect what faith leaders feared would happen.

“It’s not that I think they’re too racy. I just think that they’re exactly what they are,” Kellough said. “They don’t have to apologize for where they stand, but it’s like they expect me to apologize. And I won’t.”

Gaston Youth Connected’s past posts have included talk about abstinence. The group posted about abstinence 11 times on its Facebook page since it was created, with 10 of those posts mentioning abstinence as the only 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancy, STDs and HIV. The group last mentioned abstinence in a post Sept. 10.

Anyone who has specific questions about why the group posts what it does can talk to a staff member, Finley said. People can also comment on the group’s Facebook page.

Finley acknowledged having posts mentioning condoms and birth control reaffirms the beliefs of those who doubt the organization’s intentions.

“It does give them ammunition. We have to do our job in an effective way. We don’t post things to get some kind of rise out of people,” Finley said. “We know that there are always going to be folks in the community that disagree with things we do in the community. We do think what we’re doing reflects what the majority of parents in the community say they want for their teens.”

You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.

Facebook feedback

Area residents had mixed reactions to the social media messages, according to the posts on The Gazette’s Facebook wall. Here’s what people had to say:

Diane Luna Wilson: “It's encouraging or telling your teens, ‘Here, go have sex.’ This is stupid! Why on earth would you encourage teenagers to have sex knowing full well that it doesn't matter if they use protection or not. They could get pregnant, they still could get STDs. Nothing is certain but the word ‘no,’ not until I'm married.

MiKi Leonard Whitlock: “I don't think trying to be cool or whatever is the approach adults should take with kids having sex. It should be dealt with in a matter of fact, adult way. If you are going to participate in adult activities you should do it in an adult and responsible way. And be ready to deal with the consequences of your behavior.”

Dana Glenn: “Those posts are just being realistic. Young people need that sort of information. They don't get it at any Gaston County school and if they don't get it at home, well, we might just be calling them ‘mom’ or ‘dad’ years before they are ready for that huge responsibility. Keep up the good work.”

Rebekah Suzanne Sutton: “Let’s face it. Teens have sex whether you want to admit it or not. And in my eyes it’s better to be safe than sorry. I would rather my child see this post and know they can receive free protection and go get it, than use nothing at all, and risk having a child at a young age. This is just another resource of help for teens in Gastonia, and a way to prevent teenage pregnancy. Keep up the good work, and continue to inform the teens of Gaston County.”